Statement from the Legal Team of Ayman Soliman Following the Filing of Petition for Habeas Corpus

CINCINNATI, OH — On July 11, former Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Chaplain Ayman Soliman, who was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, filed a petition for habeas corpus in the federal district court for the Southern District of Ohio. Mr. Soliman is currently held in the Butler County Jail, and his petition requests that the court enter an order preventing the government from transferring him to another facility as the case continues. He has been in custody since Wednesday, July 9, without access to a bond hearing before a judge.

Seeking this order is necessary to prevent the government from its increasingly common tactic of moving and hiding detainees to facilities across the country as a method to force them under the jurisdiction of a less favorable court and to deny their access to legal counsel.

Below are statements from members of the legal team representing Ayman Soliman.

“Mr. Soliman is an upstanding, compassionate individual with years of experience supporting community members during some of life’s hardest moments,” said Nazly Mamedova of Nazly Mamedova Law. “Any attempt by government officials to portray his character as the antithesis of this is a clear example of retaliation. Mr. Soliman overcame hurdles to create a home in the United States, following every rule and process along the way. We remain steadfast in our commitment to securing his safety and release.”

“We stand at a critical moment in Mr Soliman’s case and refuse to allow government officials to create a cat and mouse game within our legal system,” said Kate Brady of the Muslim Legal Fund of America (MLFA). “We have witnessed numerous incidents of detainees being removed under the cover of darkness and hastily shuffled from one location to another without legal contact.This filing is an attempt to shield Mr. Soliman from these detrimental tactics, and we urge the Court to fulfill our request. We hope to see him quickly returned to the beloved community in Ohio he selflessly serves, who in turn has tirelessly rallied its support to ensure the government abides by the rule of law in his case.”

“Mr Soliman’s swift and safe release remains our top priority,” said Robert Ratliff of Brennan, Manna & Diamond, LLC. “Regardless of how many years he has spent in the United States or previous legal proceedings, Mr Soliman is entitled to have his application reviewed ultimately as an asylum seeker. Serving as a refuge for those fleeing persecution has been and must remain a cornerstone of American immigration policy. Like so many others, Mr Soliman courageously escaped threats of violence and oppression to build a new life and community. The Court’s next steps must reflect our country’s long-standing values.”

We request that the court issue an order quickly to prevent any harm for Mr. Soliman.